With the Fire on High is my third book by Elizabeth Acevedo, and the first in prose. I loved it! Just like The Poet X and Clap When You Land, it meets difficult, controversial situations head-on, with courage and optimism.
Emoni Santiago’s life is not easy. Her mother died in childbirth, and her father, whom she calls Julio, is an escapist. He fled to Puerto Rico at the first available opportunity, leaving Emoni to be raised by his mother, Emoni’s ‘Buela. When Emoni finds herself pregnant in her freshman year, she knows she must decide what to do, and live with the decision she makes every day.
And she decides to keep her baby.
Yet, courage and love are only one part of the story; another significant part is the magic of food, the kind you may find in a book like Chocolat. Emoni’s fingers are magical and the food she makes, guided by instinct, makes people cry, warms them up, or brings up forgotten memories. But with a baby and an aging grandmother, can she afford to make choices that prioritise her dreams?
With the Fire on High is a gorgeous book about the power of love and the magic of food. Despite the struggle of everyday living, Emoni finds joy in her Babygirl, in her best friend Angelica, in her fast-developing friendship with Malachi, and in food. Emoni’s relationship with Angelica is extra-special; relationships between girls always warm my heart! The brief, powerful chapters increase both the pace and the impact of a story. With Emoni, I felt love and helplessness, courage and terror, hope and despair. Above all, With the Fire on High reminds us that we must all make our own decisions, but when we’re lucky, the people we love help us through them.
| Title | With the Fire on High |
| Author | Elizabeth Acevedo |
| Tags | Young Adult, Realistic, Food |
| Rating (out of 5) | 4.5 |
| Ages | 13+ |
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